Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Cœur-d’Issoudun, Quebec, February 23, 2013 – Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, today announced that the Government of Canada has awarded a financial contribution to Club de 3 et 4 Roues de Lotbinière.
“The Lotbinière, Lévis and Nouvelle-Beauce regional county municipalities are territories not only well suited to the practice of snowmobiling, but also to that of quad and ATV riding. With this financial support, our Government is encouraging the growth of winter tourism in the Chaudière-Appalaches and Greater Québec City area,” said MP Gourde.
Club de 3 et 4 Roues de Lotbinière Inc. oversees the maintenance of 450 kilometres of winter trails through all three RCM territories, including a 133-kilometre stretch of the Trans-Québec trail network. Thanks to the purchase of a new grooming machine, the Club is now better equipped to guarantee all users accessible trails.
“This equipment will allow us to improve access to our trails while reinforcing the region’s position as a choice destination, especially among enthusiasts from the United States and Europe,“
said Éric Couture, President of Club de 3 et 4 Roues de Lotbinière.
According to Tourisme Chaudière-Appalaches, snowmobiling and quad/ATV riding is the lifeblood of the region’s winter tourism economy, generating more than $37 million (snowmobile) and nearly $22 million (quad) in economic spinoffs in 2009-2010. Community organizations add their efforts to those of regional economic players to consolidate and strengthen the popularity of the province’s 33,000 kilometres of trails on markets outside Quebec.
This $121,000 non-repayable contribution has been granted through Canada Economic Development’s Community Diversification program and in line with the spirit of the National Tourism Strategy recently put in place to promote Canada as a prime tourist destination.
